A former member of the Irish Republican Army was sent back to Ireland this week while en route to Fort Augustus, P.E.I., for Irish heritage celebrations.

INDEPTH: IRA disarmament

Pat Treanor, the mayor of County Monaghan in Ireland, had been to Canada twice in the past year. But when he flew into St. John's on Wednesday, border security officials asked him whether he had a record.

He told them he was convicted once — for being a member of the IRA. He was refused admittance to Canada and sent back home.

"I'm disappointed and I would like to be part of the celebrations on Prince Edward Island," he told CBC News in an interview from his hometown.

But he expects he'll get this travel problem straightened out. "I do believe it was just some kind of a cock-up at the airport, seeing that I got in twice before. I will be meeting with the Canadian ambassador and I'm fairly confident we'll resolve whatever difficulties there are there."

The IRA officially ended its armed struggle against British rule in July 2005.

Treanor said he was a member for a few years in the 1970s, but that he's never committed any crime. He remains a member of Sinn Fein, the IRA's political wing.

The Canadian Border Security Service won't talk about the case. But spokeswoman Jennifer Morrison said people can be turned away for a number of reasons, such as having a criminal record or belonging to a terrorist group.

Treanor was travelling with three other members of the Monaghan county council, who were able to continue on to Fort Augustus.

Harper calls for fixed election dates every four years

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says his government will introduce a bill to establish fixed federal election dates every four years, assuming the government isn't defeated in a House of Commons vote.

Residential schools are closed, but memories linger on healing day

It has taken nearly fifty years for Muriel Betsina to gain self-confidence after the physical and emotional abuse she recalls at the native residential school she attended.

Aboriginal children were taken from their families and put in residential schools.

Inquests ordered in deaths of psychiatric patients

Inquests must be held in the deaths of two patients who died while under restraint at a psychiatric hospital, the Ontario Human Rights Commission has ruled.

Hells Angels store closed in Charlottetown

Police on Prince Edward Island have closed down a store that sells merchandise for the Hells Angels motorcycle gang.

Police used dogs during raids at suspected Hells Angels locations on Thursday. (CBC)

Public funeral for Goddard today

Capt. Nichola Goddard, the country's first female combat soldier killed in battle, will be memorialized today in a public funeral in Calgary.

Capt. Nichola Goddard was Canada's first female combat soldier to be killed in action. (Department of National Defence)